Congratulations to LSIC alumna Grace Brier (’16 GWU, Civil) andfellow GWU law students Arslan Sheikh, Daniel Causey, and Amanda Danforth for taking first place in the fifth annual Estrella Mock Trial Competition held April 1-2 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

TOGETHER AS ONE, the theme of Celebration of Service ’17, recognizes the spirit of public service and the extraordinary efforts of our distinguished honorees, colleagues, and community partners in bringing hope and dignity to our city’s poor. It is our most important fundraiser of the year and we need your support! Come raise a toast to togetherness—see old friends, make new friends, and have some fun on April 19th at Google D.C.

Hats off to Google, our #CelebrateReform Sponsor, for pledging $11.5 million to fight racial bias in policing and criminal sentencing. The latest round of grants targets organizations that use data to combat racial disparities in the criminal justice system.

Citizens across the nation are coming together in unprecedented numbers to express their unwavering belief for accountability and justice. Attorneys and legal advocates in particular are proving that CHANGE IS POSSIBLE through direct action, pro bono service, or financial support of organizations leading the cause.

It ain’t easy getting your attention, believe you us! Our blog and social media platforms seek to inform, spread ideas, build a community, and – yes – sustain LSIC through online campaigns. So give us some hearts and thumbs up, and we’ll do the same! Here are some faces we LIKElove.

Yes, hope for thousands of vulnerable neighbors desperate to be there—proud, independent, and accomplished—for their families and loved ones. But with a legal system that is often stacked against them, they can’t do it alone.

As we stand in the face of potentially drastic barriers to affordable housing, employment, public assistance, and heath care in 2017, we ask you to join us in our mission to help educate our neighbors of their rights and come to their defense when they need it most.

Volunteer service events, even on a modest scale, require a generous spirit—and a serious effort. This month, on Dec. 13th and 20th, we rolled up our sleeves in partnership with two District outreach groups to help Feed the People. Here’s what we learned.

A huge THANK YOU to the Rapoport Family Foundation, the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region, and the John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation for their generous financial support and confidence in our work.

In June, we announced our selection to the Catalogue for Philanthropy, a highly respected and locally-focused Guide to Giving that helps creates visibility and philanthropic dollars for charities in Greater Washington. LSIC was one of 375 charities vetted on the basis of need, impact, cost-effectiveness, and transparency of finances.

Our sincere thanks to the Catalogue for highlighting our work and placing us among the very best of local nonprofits committed to “challenging the status quo, tackling critical issues, and offering support, dignity, compassion, and opportunity to those who need it most.”

Catch up on our October-November pro bono and community partnerships, trainings, advocacy, and clinical teaching. Don’t miss our feature in Washington Lawyer and enlightening podcasts with Teresa Hodge and other fascinating folks. Are you making the world a better place? Please send your news and accomplishments to LSIC blog editor Pamela Garlick so that we can post them in this column. We also welcome guest submissions and story ideas.Read More

One encounter with the criminal justice system can lead to a record that stays with you for life, interfering with your ability to work, find housing, and provide for basic needs. Thousands of men and women in Washington, DC carry this burden—even if they have done nothing wrong or have already paid their dues. Many are eligible to seal their record yet lack the knowledge and resources to do so on their own.

This holiday season, you can fight this injustice. Please Donate an Hour and Give a Second Chance.

Mark your calendars for April 19 2017. We’re looking forward to greeting a big, friendly crowd— Together as One. We know it’s early, but now is the time to drum up sponsor support. Thank you for helping us spread the word.

In planning our Orientation and reunion festivities, we unearthed some class photos that we thought you might enjoy. These shots are from graduation years ending in 6—a nod to our October 26th Reunion and newly minted alumni class of 2016. Recognize yourself and friends? Please help us place a name to a face. Peruse our Class Lists. And tell us what you’re up to via our Alumni Survey. We’re a big family and would love to hear from you!